Ida B. Wells (Finally) Wins a Pulitzer Prize!

Hello Meltingpot Community,

On Monday the Pulitzer Prizes – the Academy Awards of journalism – were announced and one particular award warmed my defiant Black journalist’s heart. Eighty-nine years after her death, Ida B. Wells received a special citation from the Pulitzer committee for her pioneering work in investigative reporting. More specifically, she was given the award, “For her outstanding and courageous reporting on the horrific and vicious violence against African Americans during the era of lynching.”

Better Late than Never for Ida B. Wells

It goes without saying that so many of the contributions made by African-Americans and women to this country are overlooked and ignored by the chroniclers of history. For a Black woman, this is a double whammy. Ida B. Wells was a fearless activist who went far beyond convention to fight for what she believed in when it came to women’s rights, civil rights and the dignity of Black people. Her work influenced the lives of so many people, she deserves all the awards, not just the Pulitzer.

Luckily, I profiled Wells in February for my series on Black journalists, so you can get a summary of Ida B. Wells’ extraordinary life, and truly understand why this Pulitzer Prize is so meaningful. Her legacy is far greater than the words she left on a page. Please learn all you can about this woman of uncommon courage and hopefully take inspiration from her actions. As a journalist. As a change agent in society. Even as a working mother, Wells was forging new paths for others to follow and emulate.

Let’s ask ourselves, how can we be more like Ida? My favorite quote of hers, might give us some ideas.

“I felt that one had better die fighting against injustice than to die like a dog or a rat in a trap.” – Ida B. Wells

Peace!

(Featured Image via Creative Commons)